Keiona R. Miller, a Democratic councilwoman in North Plainfield, is running for Somerset County freeholder.Courtesy of Keiona R. Miller

SOMERVILLE — Saying "it’s time for diversity in county government," a Democratic candidate for Somerset County freeholder has charged that the county government does not adequately represent the entire county.

A councilwoman in North Plainfield, Keiona R. Miller, who is African-American, is looking to unseat Republican Patricia Walsh and represent people she said "feel like their voices are not being heard."

"They have that option this year, political diversity as well as ethnic diversity," Miller said in an interview.

But Walsh, who is seeking her third term on the freeholder board, countered that she represents all county residents.

"Because I’m a white, Catholic woman, does that mean that I don’t represent everyone in Somerset County? No, it doesn’t," Walsh said. "I bring everybody’s voice to the table. I bring every constituent that I talk to to the table."

The pending match-up between Miller and Walsh is one of two races this year for countywide seats. In the other contest, Sheriff Frank Provenzano, a Republican, will likely defend his seat against Democratic challenger Richard Arline, who lost to Provenzano in 2010.

All four candidates are running unopposed in the June 4 primary to secure their parties’ nominations.

Provenzano, who is seeking his fifth term, said, "There’s more work to be done as sheriff of Somerset County."

Somerset County Freeholder Patricia WalshFile Photo

Calling it a "work in progress," Provenzano said the sheriff’s office has been increasing security at county facilities. Educational programs also have been conducted to instruct county employees about threats that they might encounter and how to respond, Provenzano said.

The achievements during his tenure, Provenzano said, include creating various programs, such as a K-9 unit and a gang initiative unit. The sheriff’s office also created a program for residents to drop off their unused prescription drugs, keeping the medicine out of the hands of young children, he said.

Looking for a rematch against the sheriff, Arline said his previous loss does not discourage him from running again, but this time, he is looking to knock on more doors.

"When you’re a candidate for a political position, you can never meet too many people," said Arline, adding that "it’s the individual votes that count at the end."

Arline said his background gives him the qualifications to serve as sheriff, pointing to his 33 years of law enforcement experience before retiring in 2004 as a federal investigator with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

As for the issues he’ll address during the campaign, Arline said he was still in discussions with party officials to formulate those topics.

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In the freeholder race, Walsh said she wanted to continue the fiscal management that the freeholders have used to navigate through the recession in recent years.

Officials have reduced the county workforce and instituted different cost-cutting measures, including changes to eligibility for medical benefits after retirement, Walsh said. The county also eliminated payments for sick days accrued after a certain date and unused, Walsh said.

"That’s the one thing that’s also phenomenal about Somerset County," Walsh said. "We don’t look, when we’re planning and visioning, it isn’t just next year or the year after. It’s a five-, 10-, 15-year lookout."

For Miller, the issues that she’ll be focused on include whether county open space dollars are being spent appropriately as well as the recent cutbacks at the Richard Hall Community Mental Health Center.

As part of a restructuring plan at the facility, a drop in county funding means reduced staff, fewer services and longer waiting times for certain new clients to begin receiving treatment, county officials said. But Miller said she would like to explore ways of increasing financial support for the center.

Referring to mental health treatment, Miller said: "This is something that’s serious and we need … to take a serious look at how we’re going to deal with this in our own community."